We have a kind of elaborate system whereby most of our feature films
(the ones not reserved for class) circulate for student home-use and
everything else is restricted. Out-of-print titles get taken off the
home-use list unless they have only had minimal circulation and can
probably be replaced with used copies.

Students do lose videos at a higher rate than faculty members but
having provided this for three years the hassles are far overshadowed
by the satisfaction we get from knowing students are loving it. Our
collection policies haven't changed so this is students who are
exploring international cinema, the classics, the esoteric, and the
otherwise critically-acclaimed.

On Wed, Nov 11, 2009 at 5:57 PM, Anthony Anderson <anthonya@usc.edu> wrote:
> On a slightly different tangent: perhaps as a true convenience to the
> students, they could be just
> allowed to check out films to view outside of the library. This is the
> basic policy here at USC
> with our Leavey Library video collection. Except for a relatively small
> items specifically placed on course reserve, any
> student and faculty member can check out any vhs tape or dvd in our 5000+
> collection
> for up to three days. This is a policy which has proven to be enormously
> popular with both faculty and student
> body alike. While so many academic libraries continue be so restrictive in
> their video circulation policies
> I find....well..um....unfathomable. I mean, why should students be forced to
> watch the films in the confines
> of the library building?
>
> *******************************
> Anthony E. Anderson
> Social ScienceÂ and Arts & Humanities Librarian
> Von KleinSmid Library
> University of Southern California
> Los Angeles, CA 90089-0182
> (213) 740-1190Â anthonya@usc.edu
> "Wind, regen, zon, of kou,
> Albert Cuyp ik hou van jou."
>
> *************************************
>
>
> Sarah E. McCleskey wrote:
>
> I love the idea of the student paying $2.99 for a semester of streamed
> access. It leaves our collection budgets for, well, collecting, and
> provides a revenue stream for NewDay, Icarus, Bullfrog, Newsreel, etc.,
> etc., etc. I think students would rather pay $2.99 than have to come to
> the library to watch a movie. Every time I say this someone shoots it down,
> but I really wish more distributors would go with a pay-per-stream model,
> where we can pass that cost along to the student and use our money for
> content (rather than access).
>
> Sarah @ Hofstra
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: videolib-bounces@lists.berkeley.edu
> [mailto:videolib-bounces@lists.berkeley.edu] On Behalf Of Jonathan Miller
> Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 4:57 PM
> To: videolib@lists.berkeley.edu
> Subject: Re: [Videolib] A meditation on indie vdeo pricing in an age of
> fiscalapocalypse
>
> Dear video-ists
>
> 1) If amongst say the top 1000 higher=ed media buyers price per se was not
> the obstacle to buying important (say the top 25% of released titles?)
> documentaries at prices between say $200 and $400,
>
> And now, with reduced budgets there is less ability to continue buying them
> - overall.
>
> Then, if distributors who formerly sold at $200-$400 were to cut prices to
> say $100
>
> Why should we expect any more of those 1000 top buyers to buy 2 > 4 x as
> many (at least) units? I don't get it. If I sold 200 units at $300 = $
> 60,000 / now I am going to release the same films for say $150 - will now
> 400 colleges buy that same title? And even if they do, I am still behind
> (higher costs, more work).
>
> 2) How many of you are using or getting your profs/students to use services
> such as
>
> A) Amazon VOD
> B) New Day VOD
>
> Could we get say 30,000 students to pay $2 each for say our recent release
> on the mortgage crisis WE ALL FALL DOWN? (if we stream it ourselves and keep
> all the money, less the 3% credit card fee!) or 70,000 students (!) if it is
> done thru a 3rd party service like Amazon?
>
> 3) Is Alexander Street's model a good substitute for you? Would you like to
> move in that direction?
>
> Perhaps, Gary et al, you can give us some specific commentary on which
> companies / policies that you see starting to emerge do you think might
> work? What are some companies doing right (Strategically) as you see it?
> What companies are moving in the wrong direction, and why.
>
> Otherwise, apart from closing up shop, I am not sure what you are suggesting
> we (distributors/ producers) do.
>
> Is that too harsh?
>
> JM
>
>
>
> VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues
> relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control,
> preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and
> related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective
> working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication
> between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and
> distributors.
>
>

--
Chris Lewis
Media Librarian
American University Library
202.885.3257
"Never write when you can talk. Never talk when you can nod. And never
put anything in an e-mail." - Eliot Spitzer on Secrets of Success
VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and distributors.